[h1][color=yellow]Ellis Nochel[/color][/h1]

"Don't let him get away!"

"He's dead if I get my hands on him!"

Port Chastine was hailed as one of the largest seaside cities in its region of the Qrehn Sea and it was by far the most impressive settlement on its island. Ships docked there out of necessity to reveal or to drop off cargo whether it be merchandise or passengers. It was a popular hub for commerce as well. Surrounding its docks was a vast marketplace where buyers and sellers exchanged goods of all varieties. Naturally, as Port Chastine was a capital for economic practice, crime was to be found admit its fair business. The tourists were chief targets for thieves and it was no secret that the crime families had their hands in the pockets of the city's stock companies. In Port Chastine there were many who preyed on law abiding civilians. Then there were those who preyed on those predators.

But don't mistake them for just individuals.

"Excuse me, oops, my bad...not really!"

Shoving people out of his way as he charged to safety was a young dark skinned man who was dressed fashionably. Also barging through the patrons of Chastine's marketplace were a trio of large, burly men. Leading the pack of brutes as a much shorter and scrawnier man by comparison. While his thugs were dressed rugged, their shirts sleeveless so they could flex their muscles in the open, the man wore a nicely tailored suit which displayed his wealthy status. The young man they were pursuing was adamant to escape with the object in his hands. So adamant that he pushed a vendor's cart of cabbages into his pursuers, causing them all to topple into a heap. This agitated their leader who waved his fist at them angrily.

"Darn it you piece of street trash!" The rich man hissed. "Looks like I'll have to handle you myself!"

He pulled a flintlock pistol from out of his suit and aimed it at the young man. Without any regard for the fact that he was standing the heart of a crowded marketplace, the rich man fired. Fortunately for him, the young man was able to use his environment to his advantage and he whipped the corner just in time to avoid the round. He tore through an alley and finally found safety as he scaled the side of a building and ascended onto the rooftops. 

"Hah, morons!" Ellis cackled as he marveled the necklace he had stolen. 

He mind fluttered with speculation of its worth. When his hype simmered he leaped to the next rooftop and onward until he found himself at his hideout in Chastine's slums. The inside of the hideout was a total pigsty. Ellis has nowhere else to stash his illegally acquired possessions so all of the junk cluttered in his home into columns and clumps. It was all the stuff he failed to sell off on the black market. Over the years he discovered that a lot of things stolen from other criminals lacked legitimacy. There were a lot of replicators in Chastine who made a living off coating rocks to resemble gemstones. Ellis himself had been fooled quite a bit by these fakes. Thankfully he wasn't the one paying for them. He took one last gander at his most recent acquisition before placing it on a shelf where he could clearly see it. He would take it to his friend later to get its value appraised. Having gone through a lot of trouble to get the necklace, he would certainly be irritated if it were another fake. 

As Ellis prepared to leave the necklace alone for the next few hours, a glimmer in its socket caught his eye. Within it noticed a peculiar gemstone - one that he had never seen before. Skeptical about its authenticity, Ellis decided that he give it a personal inspection before even wasting time bringing it to the appraiser. He shimmied out of the necklace and into his palm.

Nothing would ever be the same after that.

When Ellis revived he found that his body was mostly submerged beneath several feet of snow. No longer did he feel the warmth of Port Chastine's tropical breeze. His eyes darted around in shock. Winter was unknown to Port Chastine and since Ellis had never left the city once in his life, he never had the opportunity of feeling such a frost or touching snow. He had heard about it in passing from those who were well traveled while scouring the marketplace for his next victim. The substance felt soft - or at least that was what he thought. The cold numbed him within mere minutes of his regaining consciousness so he wasn't sure exactly what or how he felt. He was dressed improperly for the weather, his loose fitting clothing exposing him. He felt the tips of his unprotected fingers blister. He need not waste time worrying about his toes for he wasn't even sure he still had them. The young man had to get warmth soon or else he would surely freeze to death. He desperately searched for shelter. Luckily, across an untrustworthy bridge, was a house that looked cozy enough to squat in.

Now if only he could make it there.

Ellis forced his way through the snow and across the bridge. It was there he was met with the presence of other entities. Regardless of their morals it was a good thing for a guy like him. If he were bad he could be worse. If they were good they could be used - same as if they were neutral. At his arrival Ellis noted that the door to the house was already opened with some contraption holding it open. Rudely and without permission he weaseled his way inside. He wasn't taking anymore chances with the frigidness.

After entering he heard someone ask for a blanket. He didn't pay much attention to the physical details of those around him, if he did he would find that a rather odd party had congregated within the house. Ellis' only concern was warming up. Never again did he want to dabble in the cold.

"I'd like one to," Ellis requested in addition to the crocodile person. "Does anyone know the quickest way back to Chastine? Can't deal with this no more."